UPDATE: Jackson County, Oklahoma man killed in industrial accident, as he was hit by pipes
JACKSON COUNTY, Okla. – An accident at a drilling rig in Jackson County left one man dead, Thursday afternoon.
It happened about 1:15 p.m. at Big Giant Drilling, which is just northeast of El Dorado.
Right now, investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the OSBI are still on the scene. No one knows for sure how it happened, but Jackson County Sheriff Roger Levick told 7News what workers there told him.
El Dorado emergency responders and firefighters waited solemnly on the ground, unable to help, as one firefighter climbed up the ladder of the Big Giant drilling rig where the worker was killed just hours before. Workers and police stood by, shocked by what happened, still unclear as to exactly how.
"This is a dangerous business. It's a terrible accident. This kind of thing happens in this industry and it's terrible," said Levick.
The man was on a construction elevator about 90 feet in the air, connecting two 1,600 lbs pipes. One worker told 7News that all he heard was a loud boom and the next thing he knew his co-worker was dead. That worker did not want to talk on camera because he was too shaken up.
Authorities say, somehow, the pressure of the pipes caused some of the supporting equipment, called fingers, to bend, which sent one of the huge pipes back toward the worker. It hit him and it appears that he was killed by the impact. Authorities say this type of accident does not happen often in this area.
"Not here in Jackson County. I haven't, because we don't have that much oil play here in Jackson County. There's quite a bit now in the southwest part of the state."
Authorities have not released the name of the victim, but w7News does know he was wearing his safety harness, helmet and following proper safety procedures.
They are awaiting word from OSBI and OSHA to find out how this tragic accident may have occurred.
It happened about 1:15 p.m. at Big Giant Drilling, which is just northeast of El Dorado.
Right now, investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the OSBI are still on the scene. No one knows for sure how it happened, but Jackson County Sheriff Roger Levick told 7News what workers there told him.
El Dorado emergency responders and firefighters waited solemnly on the ground, unable to help, as one firefighter climbed up the ladder of the Big Giant drilling rig where the worker was killed just hours before. Workers and police stood by, shocked by what happened, still unclear as to exactly how.
"This is a dangerous business. It's a terrible accident. This kind of thing happens in this industry and it's terrible," said Levick.
The man was on a construction elevator about 90 feet in the air, connecting two 1,600 lbs pipes. One worker told 7News that all he heard was a loud boom and the next thing he knew his co-worker was dead. That worker did not want to talk on camera because he was too shaken up.
Authorities say, somehow, the pressure of the pipes caused some of the supporting equipment, called fingers, to bend, which sent one of the huge pipes back toward the worker. It hit him and it appears that he was killed by the impact. Authorities say this type of accident does not happen often in this area.
"Not here in Jackson County. I haven't, because we don't have that much oil play here in Jackson County. There's quite a bit now in the southwest part of the state."
Authorities have not released the name of the victim, but w7News does know he was wearing his safety harness, helmet and following proper safety procedures.
They are awaiting word from OSBI and OSHA to find out how this tragic accident may have occurred.